Death Sentences In Iran For People Who Believe In Democracy

I can’t say that I didn’t expect this. But just because one isn’t surprised does not mean that one cannot be shocked:

Iran has sentenced five people to death over the unrest that followed the country’s disputed June presidential election, state television reported Tuesday.

At least three others caught up in the turmoil have received death sentences previously.

Iran began a mass trial in August of prominent opposition figures and activists, accusing them of a range of charges from rioting to spying and plotting what authorities have called a “soft revolution” to topple the country’s Islamic rulers.

I know that the Obama Administration doesn’t like speaking out against the practices of the Islamic regime, but I think that both from a human rights angle, and from a realpolitik angle, the Administration cannot remain silent any longer.